The State Senate race for District 8 is a tight race, and students are a key constituency for the candidates involved. Politicians hoping to take power over the Orono/Old Town area must act in favor of students if they want to see the support of student voters. In the race between Mike Tipping and Leo Kenney, only one has made a consistent effort to engage with the student body.

Mike Tipping has repeatedly acted in the best interest of students. He sponsored LD 1656, an act establishing student representation on the Board of Trustees for the University of Maine System. This gave students a voice in a system that regularly makes key decisions without considering student voices. Mike Tipping has tabled in the Union, where students can ask questions and communicate with someone in a position of power and have their voice heard.

Leo Kenney has not engaged with students outside of Greek Life. He only talks to students in fraternities. As a student not in a fraternity,  I do not feel like this is a politician I can trust or talk to. He’s campaigning on a platform centered on being a local Orono small-town boy, but he’s not listening to local Orono voices. 

He has refused to respond to student comments. The Maine Campus reached out to him personally across several platforms to arrange a town hall-style meeting between the two candidates. He did not respond or answer a single time. Mike Tipping responded to our email within five minutes and agreed to the forum.

Leo Kenney’s website has a lack of policy. Politicians taking stances prior to an election is critical for informed voting. I and a few other students left comments on his Instagram asking policy questions, such as plans to address climate change and whether he would protect LGBTQ+ rights. These students and I were not met with a policy statement, but rather a block on Instagram. Blocking students is not how you run for political power in a town that relies on the University of Maine to sustain itself.

How are people expected to practice informed voting for a politician that expresses no policy? Luckily, he has, in some instances, expressed a couple policy views for people to form their opinions on. He has expressed not wanting transgender students to share a bathroom with cisgender students. He has also expressed not wanting to move the election to a date where students are in session, believing they’d nullify the votes of “locally engaged voters.”

His political endorsements come from people who have known him his entire life. While these people can express political opinions and endorsements, I would like to hear an endorsement from someone who has worked with him only as a politician. 

As a student voter, you should consider who has your best interests in mind. Mike Tipping has continuously proved himself to be a voice for students. Leo Kenney has not.

Being a first-generation student means you’re immediately starting on uneven ground. All of your peers have parents who have experienced and possibly even have ties to universities, meaning they have a wide support network both in terms of applying to and navigating colleges. First-generation students often have to navigate these issues without the support of someone who has experienced it before. It can be a very isolating experience at times, and it’s why these groups experience struggles with maintaining retention rates. Support programs like TRIO seek to identify and provide support for these unique struggles, but ultimately, there must be a responsibility for the University of Maine itself to support and connect to these students who need more help than traditional non-first-generation students. The onus can not be entirely on TRIO when the University is also able to host events.

In my first two years at the university, I did not receive support from the school in navigating the challenges that my peers did not have to face because their parents went to university. I did not know how to read my financial aid bill or understand my scholarships. I was left to fend for myself when the university decided they could lessen the aid they gave me because of my scholarships. Without being in a program like TRIO Student Support Services, I would’ve been left behind. UMaine enacts practices that aren’t always in the best interest for students and first gens don’t have the help to identify when this is happening to them. Programs like AMP are created and put into place all the time and students don’t always know how to navigate investigating things like these to see if they’re worth it for them or not. 

 Now, in my third year, I’ve seen a small improvement in communication with first-gen students. There have been two events aimed at us, specifically. One was a social program where people could stop in and grab mixed energy drinks while meeting other first generation students. The second was an informal meet-and-greet for first gens. This is a good thing, and facilitating programs to foster connections between students in similar situations is absolutely the right move for students. However, even with these programs there lies communication issues. The poster for the energy drink program was emailed about 24 hours prior. The informal meet-up was emailed five hours prior to the event. 

These programs are a vital step in increasing visibility of first-generation students and enabling them to create their own support networks, but there’s a crucial failure in communication happening when students are only being made aware of these things the morning of. I advocate for the continuation of programs like these, but a proper heads up should be given. Students are busy and need time to account for something new in our schedule. Outside of events, there should also be an emphasis on spreading awareness of first-generation students and the challenges they face.

Wells Dining is a hotspot for innovative experiments in food. The most prominent and promising of them all is the ghost kitchen—a host of restaurants that exist to be ordered through mobile apps. There are three main “restaurants” that students can order from for meals in Wells. In this daring experiment, emboldened by the excess of dining dollars on my meal plan, I sought to try each of these ghost kitchens. I was aided in this experiment by the Kiwibot service, enabling students to order food to their dorm through a fleet of cute little mobile delivery robots.=

Day One: Mr. Beast Burger

I started with the one I presumed to be the most promising. I decided to order a Nashville Hot Chicken Tender Sandwich as a combo with seasoned fries and Starry, due to only having four drink options, and not out of any particular love for the drink. Immediately, I was disappointed by the inability to even see the ingredients on the sandwich, let alone to customize. I did, however, find the process of ordering with meal dollars quite easy. I placed my order at 5:48 p.m. and it arrived at 6:22 p.m, eight minutes within the estimate of 42 minutes. I was pleased to be greeted with heart eyes by the Kiwibot, but this soured as it gave me side eyes after I picked up my food. Not sure what I did to deserve that. To my dismay, my order was messed up. I received a regular chicken sandwich, sans Nashville Hot, and my fries were, in fact, not seasoned. I had to pick numerous pickles off the sandwich, but fortunately my roommate is quite the fiend. The fries were disappointingly undersalted and dry, but I’ll give them the credit that they were warm. The chicken was surprisingly flavorful and even a little spicy without the hot sauce. The bun had a very pleasant buttery toasted flavor. The sandwich ended up being surprisingly good, despite the lingering taste of pickles haunting me. I was not able to finish the fries, however, and my order not being correct did taint the experience. 

Final Rating: 7/10

Would I Order Again?: Yes

Day Two: Pardon My Cheesesteak

I must disclose that I do not enjoy cheesesteaks, which might bring into question my authority on this review. I ended up ordering the chicken tenders and fries bucket, which arrived 2 minutes before the time I set for delivery: 8:45 p.m. I was not given the option to include a drink or sauce, which was unfortunate, but I’m not devastated that I couldn’t order Starry again. I greeted the Kiwibot, who once again gave me a side eye, only to wink after. This meal delivery robot is playing a dangerous game with my emotions. The food arrived in a bucket labeled “Barstool Bites,” which leads me to question the existence of a more secret and ghostier kitchen. The fries were soft and limp, and displayed an aggressive lack of flavor outside of what registered as a bitter aftertaste, which was very confusing to me. I had to add my trusty Lawry’s Seasoned Salt and Sweet Baby Ray’s Barbecue Sauce, and ultimately I was still not able to finish the fries and had to pawn them off to my roommates. I am not impressed with the french fry game at Wells Dining. The chicken tenders were better. It was warm and had a little bit of seasoning to it, but ultimately still plain. My conclusive thoughts on the chicken tenders is that I would’ve been very enthused to receive them at a fair or amusement park but let down by this being the fare at a school where I pay several thousand dollars for my meal plan. The fries are inexcusable. 

Final Rating: 5/10

Would I Order Again?: No

Day Three: Nascar Refuel

Once again, I must disclose my food preferences as they play into this exploration. I am someone who will almost always choose boneless wings over bone-in. Nascar Refuel offers exclusively bone-in wings. I am not anti-bone-in, but it’s not my usual preference by any means. I was joined this episode by my friend, who placed the order due to technical constraints. The app had a hold barring orders until 9 p.m., and would not let me order in advance. The Kiwibot, who had spent the entire time giving me cold eyes and taunting me, made heart eyes at her. She found this problematic because she is in a committed relationship, and Kiwibot flirting throws a wrench into that. We opted to get the BBQ sauce. The wings were very warm when they came, which was nice. I was hoping for more of a smoky flavor from the sauce, but my friend was content. I think if I ordered again on my own I’d get a different flavor. The sauce also seemed a bit haphazardly dumped. The chicken was decent, certainly not dry. However, I must again come to reckon with the final boss of these kitchens. The french fries at Wells have consistently let me down. Nascar Refuel is no different. They just can’t win. They were utterly lacking in flavor, even less than “Pardon My Cheesesteak”. It felt as if they didn’t even attempt to put salt on them. We stopped eating the fries after maybe ten, they just didn’t get better. I wish I could’ve opted out of the fries.

Final Rating: 5/10

Would I Order Again?: Maybe, with a different sauce.

We live in a time where election anxieties are high and political turnout is more essential than ever. Being strategic and informed about voting is tremendously important. As an out-of-state student, you’re faced with the challenge of deciding which state you should vote in. I implore you to consider voting in Orono.

Maine is unique as a state in that we, along with Nebraska, split our electoral votes.  Maine awards two votes based on the winner of the popular vote in the state and then one vote for the winner of each of the two congressional districts. The 1st congressional district is considered a safe vote for the Democratic candidate each time, but the 2nd congressional district is considered highly competitive, having voted for both Donald Trump for president in 2020 and a Democrat, Jared Golden, for the House in that same year. While four electoral votes is not a lot compared to other states, Maine’s unique electoral model creates a competitive district that UMaine students can swing.

Not only is it important to consider where our electoral votes go, it’s equally fundamental to consider local politics. We see a direct impact of our ballot on local politics, like the State Senate race currently happening between Mike Tipping and Leo Kenney. As students, we spend a majority of our time in Orono. For most students, at least seven to eight months out of the year are spent in this area. Students are considered permanent residents here. Because of this, you are more likely to see a direct impact from local elections in Orono as opposed to your home town. Local politicians work to make rules that affect students at the University of Maine. The bill that established student representation on the Board of Trustees (L.D. 1656) was initially brought forth by Senator Tipping. These local politicians have a huge impact on student lives at this university. The University is viewed as a key target in local politics, because politicians know they must act for the students in order to secure the student vote.

Again, some states are more contentious in the election than Maine. Ultimately, the decision on where to vote is one that only you can make for yourself. I only seek to encourage you to consider if your vote is better served in Maine compared to a state that is almost always likely to swing in one direction. Registering to vote is easy and can be done online at https://maine.gov/vote or by stopping in to pick up a registration card at the Center for Student Involvement in the union.

As a college student, studying is a pillar of the university experience. Most of us are already familiar with the prestigious art of late-night assignments or cramming for a test. Unfortunately, there’s no convenient way to study late at night as a student in a shared dorm. Students with singles don’t have to worry about this, but there’s a shortage of singles this year. This highlights the necessity of a 24/7 study space on the University of Maine campus.

The library is not adequate as a late night study space due to the hours. It’s open until Midnight Monday to Thursday and on Sundays, but closes at 6 p.m. on Saturday. While it’s true that many students are not studying on a Saturday night, there are certainly students with a need for a study space just as much on the weekends as on the weekdays. The library extends hours during finals week to 1 a.m., but there are still students who want to study past this time without disturbing their roommates. This issue ties back to the current housing issue, and we won’t see an immediate solution for either of these things, but it seems to make evident the necessity for a place where students can study.

A study space would not require workers to staff it overnight. The library is different since it provides services from librarians and books to be checked out, but there’s no need for a staff in a space that’s just designed to be a comfortable study environment. This seems to be an issue with universities in general. A quick look into universities similar to ours, such as the University of Connecticut, managed to bear no results of a 24/7 study space. A big portion of college students are a nocturnal breed and the large sum of money we pay towards the school every semester should afford students the opportunity to study past 6 p.m. on a Saturday. The services provided by the library are invaluable, but that shouldn’t mean ignoring the necessity for a less formal study space that can be operated without an overnight staff. 

This issue does, however, also tie back to the general theme of space on campus that the administration hasn’t designated a use for. Because of this, it’s hard to recommend a specific spot on campus or to advocate for a new building to be built, since we don’t even know what buildings will still be around in a few years. Despite these complications, it’s still shocking to consider that there’s no good place to study for an exam past midnight even on a school night before that class. One possible option is to put a study space in a portion of a building that can remain unlocked, but then there still presents the issue of students potentially being able to access the rest of the building after hours. Whatever the solution looks like, UMaine should figure out a way to establish study spaces that can stay open regularly. College students can and do have a need for studying late.  

One of the many new initiatives rolled out by the University of Maine this year is the Academic Materials Program (AMP),  designed to alleviate the academic burden of textbook-buying by providing all course materials at a flat rate of $239.99. This could be a great deal for students with specific majors, but the problem is that many students’ book costs are well under this rate. 

The books provided by AMP are almost all digital, which presents difficulties for many students. The rollout of the program has led to confusion among students, not knowing how to go about learning if the program is worth it or its opt-out policy. Finally, the opt-out policy itself is confusing and may influence students to stay in the program, even if it’s a loss for them.

Textbooks are expensive; this is something that I will not argue. However, the university is greatly overstating how much textbooks cost the average student. On the FAQ website for the program, the university asserts that the average cost of textbooks per student per semester is $500. As an English student, I know that this number does not represent me. I am primarily buying novels for my courses at this point. , and they tend to cost less than textbooks. I have met a wide range of students from a wide range of majors and not once have I heard of a booklist coming out to $500, even with the inclusion of various lab kits. 

There are, however, definitely lists that come out to more than $239.99. I initially thought of studio art students when I heard of the program, since I knew they typically have to buy kits that can cost upwards of $100 per course. However, the materials list becomes so specialized for each class as the curriculum advances that the kits are not sold in the bookstore past some introductory courses like Drawing I. That means they aren’t even reaping the benefits of AMP for more than a year.

The rollout was not well understood by students or professors, many of whom still don’t really understand. There were promises of a tab in Brightspace where students could go to see their course lists to figure out how much course materials would cost and also opt-out right from that page. The “How to opt-out” question on the FAQ website mentions a place in Brightspace to opt-out, which does not exist. I had to call the book store directly to opt-out of the program myself, and I imagine many other students share this experience. I was hesitant to opt-out at first, because I was unsure if I’d still be able to pay for the digital copy of my textbook. Last year, the same textbook through the same program would’ve just been tacked onto my bill, but this year once I opted out of AMP I could not even pay to keep it. 

While I do believe that AMP has merit as a program, I do not think it lives up to its potential. The fact that students are being automatically opted-in leads me to believe that this program was designed less so for the good of students and rather for the economic wellbeing of the school which was anticipating a downward trend of enrollment that didn’t happen.  

I should emphasize that UMaine referred to equitable access textbooks as a revenue “growth opportunity” in their presentation to the Board of Trustees at a meeting this May. I am not against the AMP program as a whole, since it’s saving some students  money, but that portion of students may not be as big as they’re reporting. Search your textbooks and do the math before the deadline to opt out on Sept. 18. If this program returns next semester, I’d like to see it be a manual opt-in, rather than automatic.

Many students end up feeling dissatisfied with their current program, and those who do may pursue the option of changing their major. Students also have the option of declaring a minor. While the process of declaring a minor or changing a major can definitely be worth pursuing, it is far from convenient. It requires filling out a paper form, which can be considered basically archaic when compared to every other aspect of the University of Maine experience, which is handled almost entirely online. The current major change process needlessly complicates the experience for students who are already feeling burdened with their current academic program.

The first problem with the form is a lack of clarity. It has many different boxes, and it’s unclear what needs to be filled out for which process, as it’s used for declaring a minor or concentration as well as a change of major. It also asks for signatures, and it’s unclear what signatures need to be obtained. For example, the Minor Department Chair’s signature is only needed when declaring a minor in the College of Earth, Life, and Health (ELH). The advisor’s signature is only needed for a change of major, not for a declaration of a minor which the form does not indicate. Students in the College of Education and Human Development likely won’t encounter this form if they’re changing within or outside of the college, as the advising center will handle the paperwork for them. They will also handle the paperwork to declare a minor or a concentration. This contrasts with ELH, who have extra barriers for a student to jump through to transfer. The form being treated differently by each college can create inequity both for students and advisors. The form is also used by UMaine Machias students, which requires signatures for minor changes that UMaine Orono doesn’t. 

The second problem with this form is the fact that it’s still done on paper. There’s no reason that this form can’t be filled out online through Mainestreet, for example. Doing so online can verify forms are sent to the appropriate offices, ensuring equity in how students interact with the form on their end regardless of academic college. Moving this process to an online form would enable students to take the decision into their own hands without having to print out or stop by several offices to fill out the form while still ensuring it goes through the proper administrative eyes. Several other schools have already modernized and digitized this process, so there’s no obvious reason this shouldn’t be built into online software like MaineStreet rather than handled through paper.

Students who are looking into changing their major are likely already experiencing a significant amount of academic stress. It’s not a decision made lightly, and they’ve likely already thought through it before filling out the paperwork. Having to go through several other offices just to fill out the form isn’t likely to make them change their mind, but it might make them more likely to procrastinate out of confusion and frustration. Increasing the academic burdens on a student already burnt out enough with their program to change it just increases their stress.

Being a student on campus over break is frustrating. There are a few benefits for those who enjoy quiet time—everything is significantly less busy, and parking is not nearly the nightmare it can be before a break for those in residence halls, and even local apartment complexes have way fewer parking spaces filled over breaks. But in the inverse, you’re losing a few facilities, such as the package delivery center. The most frustrating issue I’ve encountered staying on campus is the closure of the dining halls. It may be easier to park over break, but the trade-off is a lack of food access for students living in break housing.

Students who pay for the basic unlimited meal plan with no extra dining dollars will pay $3,245 for the 2024-2025 school year. This is a large sum of money to pay just to not be able to access food during breaks. York and Hilltop, the two dining halls that take meal swipes, are closed over the break, including both weekends. Normally, the Bear’s Den in the Memorial Union provides an additional option for unlimited students, who can have two meals a week there counted as part of their meal plan. This is typically food of a somewhat higher quality than the dining halls and is paid for by real money when not covered by meal exchange. The Bear’s Den was open for limited hours over break. The problem with this is that meal exchanges were not offered to students over the break. Bear’s Den prices can run quite high for college students, especially when it’s the only food option on campus, and they have to eat there consistently for two meals a week. That could very quickly add up. This sum should also be considered in addition to meal plan money. Students pay around $3,000 for a meal plan that they can’t access over break despite the fact that they’re still on campus in the dorms they’ve also paid for. 

This becomes more frustrating when considering the population of students who are on campus over break. DTAV and Patch house many upperclassmen who are here over break and have access to a stove and/or oven. This mitigates some of the stress of not having meal plan options over break, as most DTAV and Patch residents already have a lesser meal plan and simply prepare their own food. However, for Hart, Hancock, and Knox residents, the closure of dining halls is a significant problem. For these students who are not allowed to have cooking equipment in their dorms besides a small microwave, their choice becomes eating off campus or eating at the Bear’s Den. Either way, they’re spending extra money for the food that should be covered during the break. Staffing shouldn’t be an issue for these halls, as many other groups of employees are still expected to work over student break. The last hall open for the break, York, makes the decision not to have the dining halls open even more appalling. Students are living in York Hall over break, but there are no food options in York Dining for said students.

Students should be able to use their meal plan over the break if they stay on campus. Those in continuous housing dorms have no choice but to spend additional money to stay here over break. This should not be happening with the amount of money we spend on unlimited meal plans.

One of the biggest struggles faced by college students is mental health. It’s something almost every one of us faces. There are many common sources of anxiety in the college setting, such as deadlines, which even the most diligent students struggle with at times, and the imminent job search is another stress factor. Students may also face existing mental health issues that are compounded by a college environment. Despite this being such a universal feeling, it can be incredibly isolating. It’s easy to feel like your mental health isn’t a priority compared to others who may have “more serious” struggles. Impostor syndrome is a huge barrier that prevents students from seeking help. It’s very important to know that while some do, in fact, struggle with more severe symptoms, every struggle is a valid one. There’s no scale for how important your struggles are, and there are resources on campus that you should employ if you need them. 

The counseling center is a free resource for students that should be utilized. People are intimidated by the idea of getting “counseling,” as it can be scary and still stigmatized in some regards. They’re a resource for college students who need help handling their stress. The process of scheduling an initial consultation may feel daunting, but when counseling can be the difference between a good and bad semester, it’s worth the attempt.

Feeling unworthy to receive mental health support is a prominent barrier that prevents students from getting help. People think that they don’t deserve support on a level as official as counseling, so they’re not likely to seek it out. Even still, there are resources available that don’t require an appointment. A prominent example is the Mind Spa in the Union. The Mind Spa is a low-stress environment where students can relax and just take a break if they need. They host programs aimed at promoting mindfulness and coping with stress, but you’re also free to check out the space during their open hours, where they have massage chairs and games. If you’re feeling particularly stressed or wound up but not on the level where you’d consider the counseling center, the mind spa is a perfect resource. A change in environment to a less stressful and over-stimulating one can be very important. 

Mental health awareness has come a long way, but the stigma that prevents people from seeking help still exists. The best thing that we as college students can do is keep an eye on both ourselves and others around us. Sometimes, an opportunity to express how you’re doing can make someone’s day. It’s easy to forget that we’re in a community of people with the same struggles, but in times of darkness, it’s important to find people who can help you out of it. You are not uniquely alone in your experiences, and there will always be a person there to listen to you, whether it be a person on your floor you don’t often talk to or a licensed counselor. If you aren’t doing well, or you think someone around you is not doing well, just check-in. You and the people around you will appreciate it.

At this time of year, the Residential Advisor (RA) positions are a hot spot on people’s minds. Applicants are frustrated and anxious, waiting for a decision date that seems unclear. Even returning RAs, who were told to expect decisions by last Saturday, are now told to wait until next week. This means that both new and returning RAs are not likely to have their assignments or rejections until right before spring break. This is problematic for everyone, but especially for the rejected applicants for a few reasons—namely, the fact that they will have to deal with rejection and disappointment right before spring break and they might have to scramble to find a housing backup well after the application period for housing has opened. While this is a major problem, it is not the only problem facing RAs right now.

Another event demonstrating the massive lack of transparency between Residential Life and RAs has arisen with the recent surprising news that Estabrooke would no longer be an option for housing next year. This news was a surprise that wasn’t announced until Housing sent an email. Every student, including RAs, were told at the same time. This becomes a problem very quickly since students who hear this news are likely to ask their RAs for clarification. This is how many of them found out about it for the first time. This announcement affects Balentine, Colvin, Estabrooke, and Penobscot Hall (BCEP) RAs, who suddenly have one less dorm option. It’s possible that the RAs living in the new Honors floors of York and Stodder may be counted as part of the BCP RA team. However, that wouldn’t really make sense. Only a portion of the buildings are used to house Honors students, and a building can’t be in two complexes at once.

Another problem arises from the inconsistencies with who they keep and fire as RAs. I have personally observed a competent RA be fired for vague and unclear reasons, while other RAs have displayed predatory behaviors that have gone unpunished when reported to Res. Life. Some RAs do not adequately perform their duties and go unpunished, while others are punished for insignificant reasons. While I understand a lack of leniency with certain policies, it’s never clear which policies will be enforced and for whom. This creates a conflicting environment, where some RAs worry that their best efforts may not be enough while others can skate by on the bare minimum.

All of these issues combine to create a blatant transparency issue. Res. Life and the University are not able to communicate pertinent information to those who must deal with their decisions. These changes should be made with the consideration of the student body. RAs act as a bridge between Res. Life and the general student body, but are not often asked to give input on the changes that affect them the most. Furthermore, it’s easy for them to feel unlistened to be in their position. The deadlines promised to RAs should be achievable and meetable, or else the entire system crumbles. RAs, who act as the in-house enforcers of residential policies, must be able to trust Res. Life and be subject to equal punishment when violating their own policies. Unfair firing and the general lack of clarity in communications create a perception of unreliability.